Simplifying and Personalizing Time Management

Time management seems to be an issue for everyone. We either don’t have enough hours in the day or we don’t know what to do from one minute to the next.

I know especially when I had babies I felt like I could barely get from one meal to the next before it was time for bed. I wondered where my day went and felt like all I had accomplished was cooking, cleaning, and trying to keep up with those little hands and feet.

Now I have completely different dynamics but the same basic issues. It's also an issue I get the most questions about.

One of the keys to successful time management is to consistently reevaluate your season in life and the needs of your family. As your family grows and changes, so will the demands on your time. Make sure to stop regularly and look at what is going on and how things are working before you get overwhelmed. I do this at least twice a year, usually January and August. Also stop and look things over anytime there is a major event in your life. Think about how this event affects each person in your family and what each one will need to adjust. 
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For instance, when there is a death in the family, I have one child who needs daily routine to stay in place as much as possible, so I know I need to plan visitations and things around our basic daily routine. This can be hard, but not impossible. Another child needs extra cuddle time and several need one-on-one time to talk through their grief, another needs mementos and keepsakes to ponder memories. I can take all that into account. Now, I don’t cater to my children’s whims, but I do take them into account as I’m working through this situation. I know it will be best for me to put as much of our schedule aside for a week or more yet keep our basic routine in place so our stability is not disturbed. This will apply to sickness as well. ​

Consider what are your family’s non-negotiables. What MUST happen every single day to keep peace in your home? Once you recognize what those are, you can work around those things depending on what’s going on in your life. Examples of non-negotiables:

• When I was babysitting, I had to vacuum my floors every single day. I had little people playing on the floor every day and it needed to be clean.
• A few people in our family MUST have a bath or shower every single night.
• I must have a protein breakfast within an hour after I wake up or my blood sugar will drop.

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Exercise

Every day make sure to exercise your body, mind, and spirit doing something physical, something intellectual, and something emotionally encouraging.

• Exercising your body doesn’t have to be a whole aerobic or pilates routine. Chasing children around the house is work. When you fold laundry and clean house, put on some music and move around while you work.
• Exercising your mind can be reading or playing a game. Crossword puzzles and sudoku books are good brain exercise. Play dominoes or scrabble with the children. Watch a diy or documentary video. If you are creative, spend a little time each day with your favorite medium. I like to mix things up and learn new techniques.
• Exercising your spirit is more than just reading your Bible. Prayer and action are both very important. Don’t just pray. Don’t just read a few verses or a chapter. Put some action into it, even if it is just sharing an inspirational thought with someone else or letting a person on your list know you prayed for them today.

Morning Routine

• Drink water and take any vitamins or medications that need to be on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. I try to drink a whole quart of water. Hydration is so important.
• Freshen up and get dressed for the day. Whether you bathe at night or in the morning, freshen yourself up. Dress as if you know you will have to go to somewhere. Last minute things happen. Be prepared. If nothing does happen, then you are much more apt to accomplish more at home if you are dressed decent. Your husband will appreciate it too.
• Eat breakfast and take any supplements that need to be taken in the morning with food. Eat protein to help jump start your blood sugar for the day. Don’t start with high a starch or sugar meal. You will be more sluggish sooner. Listen to your body and feed it what it needs, not necessarily what you think you want or what is easiest to grab.
• Coffee or tea will help jump start your adrenals. It doesn’t have to be caffeinated. If you’d rather, try a ginseng tea or a peppy mint flavored herb tea. Something inviting to welcome your day.
• Devotions and prayer are a very important. I know some women consider devotions something that absolutely must be done very first thing but I can’t concentrate before breakfast. I have to be awake and alert in order to retain anything and to pray effectively.  
• Happy conversation to start the morning is one key to a happy day. Tease your husband about something fun. Ask your children what silly thing they dreamed about. Sit with a coworker and listen to them finding something positive to encourage them about. Find a blessing and share your gratitude with someone.
• Do something. Find three things to do before lunch. Even those seemingly mundane things are accomplishments. 

School - Check the Tools & Schedule page for my homeschool routine…

Home Business - Check my article on "How to Use Evernote" at BloggingSuccessfully.com. The site has lots of wonderful articles on running a home-based business.

Evening Routine

• Clean and shine the sinks. If you are not familiar with FlyLady.net, please check her out. I’ve been following her homemaking techniques for nearly twenty years now. In those seasons in life when you are overwhelmed and just don’t know what to do next, she has the answers. She has everything from “Baby Steps” to get you started and emergency cleaning for company to complete household cleaning and maintenance lists. The main thing you need to do each evening to get ready for the next day is clean your sinks. Nothing makes a homemaker feel better in the morning than NOT having to look at a sink full of dirty dishes. It also lifts the spirits to be able to brush your teeth at a sink that is shiny and welcoming in the morning. You might be surprised what a difference it really can make.
• Take a fiber supplement, magnesium, and drink some Hot Herbal Tea. This is relaxing and makes sure your body cleanses itself through the night. 
• Make a list for the next day. What will your focus be? Do you have any appointments or activities planned? If you need to take a trip to the store, make your shopping list and put it in your purse. List three things you would like to accomplish, only three. Don’t overwhelm yourself with a long list of things to do. If you finish those three things, anything else you accomplish is bonus points!
• Set out your clothes for the next day. Consider your plans for the next day and lay out clothes accordingly. If you have little ones, set theirs out as well so everyone will be ready for the day. If you have library books that need to go back, set them by the door. Make sure socks are in shoes and shoes are in place to cut down on any ‘out the door chaos’.

(Disclaimer: I’m not a health care professional so do your own research and ask your doctor…)  See more ideas on my “Routine” page…